I use to carry for 44 when I fished in Northern MT... Grizz country, now I carry pepper spray. Gun was heavy to pack and wade with... Although I am a pretty good shot, when you have a grizz running you down, I am thinking a cloud of pepper spray will hit the mark better than my shooting ability....

I did have to spray once, not at a grizz directly, but in his direction. I approached a small stream after bush whacking. when I spread the branches to reach the stream.... there he sat. He noticed me but just looked. I tested the spray to see wind direction. All ended well.

This was in the "the Bob", Bob Marshall wilderness in NW MT. Still have vivid memories of that trip.

haha i know my 44. is a lil big for most critters. But if a big grizz or a momma black bear is chargin, well i would want to be ready. Now ive been in extremly close proximity with bears a ton. They dont bother me i dont bother them. But If i do happen to find a mike tyson bear that wants me for lunch ill be ready.

I'm sorta qualified to comment on back country fishing and dangers associated with it. Although we sometimes are armed the Counter Assault Bear Spray is hard to beat. I would feel confident standing off anything that gave me time for a reaction.

The story below is from the blog here on the forum. In the 60 some entries there are many tales of things that go wrong and some that work out swell.

I think to carry, or not, is a function of State Laws and where you're going. I'm sure (even if Oregon is an 'open carry State') there are very few places that it would be needed if just fishing. (Not a combined hunting trip.)

Know a couple of guys who 'carry' damned near in site of Medford on the Rogue. Protection from what? A chipmunk?

Completely agree. I only carry when im in serious bear country. other than that bear spray will do the job. And I've heard that wasp spray works really good, Dont know just had someone tell me once.

Very interesting idea, totally new on on me. Bear spray is just an up graded pepper spray (I think). But a shot of bug spray sounds like it would really hurt. Hate Wasp's; they go right at me. If they're around I have an eppy-pen in my pocket.